Tag Archives: automotive

Secret to Success

Posted in Air Conditioning, Electectric vehicles, Electric Automobiles, Elon Musk, EVs by

Despite my initial hesitation, I’ve observed a striking pattern among truly successful individuals that compels me to share my insights.

During a recent interview, Elon Musk, currently recognized as the world’s wealthiest individual, shared an intriguing insight about his automotive design philosophy. What initially seemed like a casual remark caught my attention: he candidly explained that he designed his car primarily to suit his own preferences. At first, I chuckled at the statement, but upon reflection, I realized the profound logic behind his approach. By creating a vehicle that perfectly matched his personal tastes and requirements, Musk intuited that others might find similar appeal in a design crafted with genuine passion and meticulous attention to detail.

Throughout my extensive automotive experiences, I’ve observed that none of the vehicles seemed to reflect a CEO’s direct creative involvement or personal touch in their design.

The leadership disconnect becomes apparent when product design reveals a fundamental lack of real-world experience. When a vehicle’s shortcomings are glaringly evident, it suggests that key decision-makers have never truly tested the product beyond a superficial demonstration. While executives may conceptualize innovations, the absence of comprehensive field testing exposes a critical gap between design and practical functionality.

For example, one crisp morning, I slid into my car, immediately feeling the sharp bite of winter’s chill. Seeking refuge from the cold, I pressed the dashboard’s recirculation button, hoping for instant warmth. Momentarily, a wave of tepid air enveloped me, only to be quickly replaced by the frigid atmosphere outside. Glancing down, I noticed the recycle button had deactivated, while the fresh air indicator now glowed brightly, betraying my brief attempt at comfort.

The recirculation button stubbornly resisted my attempts, requiring multiple presses before engaging. The Nissan engineer’s design philosophy seemed to prioritize a constant influx of outside air, challenging my preference for a controlled cabin environment. Their vision of comfort diverged sharply from my own, forcing me to adapt to their predetermined ventilation strategy.

While my electric Nissan is a joy to drive, there are a few design choices that could use improvement. (No spare) Additionally, I find the complex button interface less intuitive than a straightforward lever control. A simple lever would not only simplify air circulation settings but also allow me to easily blend fresh outside air with recirculated air, enhancing the overall driving experience.

As I listened to the comment by Elon Musk, I couldn’t help but wonder if Teslas have buttons or a lever. Either way, I cannot imagine him struggling to get warm air. If he did, even once, an engineer would certainly be clearing out his desk immediately, if not sooner.

As an aside, heating the outside air takes more BTUs. Considering electric cars use heat pumps instead of engine heat, that amounts to a real significant impact on the environment as well as the wallet.

Oh! By the way, it also effects the range.

Windshield Defrosters Wanted

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I went out to get in my car this morning and saw an 1/8 of an inch of ice. (Now I wonder where that came from) As I worked on the ice, I was reminded of something I was told that they do in Alaska.

First, they winterized their cars. They have a heater under the battery and engine block. That way when they turn the key to start the car it won’t just sit there and look at you. I was also told that a heater is also in the cabin to keep the vinyl from cracking. Just going on 2nd hand info. Sounds good to me.

Of course the heaters aren’t much good unless they have some electricity. Therefore, most of the businesses have outlets to plug the cars into. So you get out of your car and plug it into the outlet. When you get back to your car when it’s 2 or 3 below 0, you will still have an operating car, and maybe not so cold in the cabin.

Alright. Here in the Midsouth, we don’t need all that stuff, but it would be nice. The two main things I’m concerned about having a clear windshield and a reasonably warm cabin. Is that too much to expect?

Those restaurants that had the plugins would likely have maybe a bigger drawing. All that would be needed is a small heating element in the cooling system and a little pump to circulate the fluid. The fan is already there. It would just need a little electricity to run it. I suspect the whole thing could work off a twelve volt outlet. I mean, all we need is a little heat.

Okay. If that’s too much, let’s do this. A small heating pad, like the ones you buy when your hip is sore. It would need to be about as long as the window is wide and it would have to be well insulated. Finally, it need only be heated to 50 degrees. That would be enough to prevent the window from icing over. Ice melts above 32 degrees.

You put the pad over the window and plug it in before leaving the car. Upon return, you come out to a nice clear windshield. Well, either that or a missing pad. I suspect some people would be prone to take them.

Not all solutions are perfect.

Heat and Mileage

Posted in Biden, Electric Automobiles, EVs, Uncategorized by

I have always known that the heat will effect mileage of electric cars, or any car with air conditioning really. However, as usual, experience is a good teacher. Now that it has been hitting 95 degrees daily lately it is becoming a great deal more obvious. For this reason, the wife and I have started waiting longer before we go out.

At the end of each trip, my EV Nissan gives me a report on how many miles per KW hour I had. It is pretty normal to score anywhere from 3.0 to 3.8. However, here lately, I have been getting reports around 2.3 and 2.4. It is somewhat logical as it takes half the 5 mile ride to cool the car down.

On rare occasions, when driving at night, I get reports close to 5.0. Then the other day, in the evening, I needed very little air conditioning. It wasn’t so hot and my trip was about half in the shade. When I pulled into the drive and turned off the car, I was surprised with a 6.1 miles per KW Hour.

That tells me, I would get much better mileage if I could do all my driving in a climate of 72 degrees where the sun is not heating the cabin through the windows.

Well, I have also drawn a few more conclusions. I could drastically increase my mileage if I could always park my car with the windows wide open. If I could leave the air conditioning off, I just might be able to double my range.

I can’t imagine that others are not completely aware of what I am saying. Moreover, air conditioning does create a load on internal combustion engines, too, likely more than we want to admit. Might it be possible that AC might cost as much as 5 or 6 miles per gallon. This is particularly true when a car must be parked in the sun, pushing the cabin heat to 130, maybe 140 degrees. Likely that compressor in any car is kept running the first 3 or 4 miles.

In the old days, we just rolled the windows down which helped a lot. We just can’t do that anymore. Weather aside, too many thieves. Too much of a temptation. The cost of insurance is high enough. However, If the cost of fuel keeps going up, we might need to roll the windows down anyway and make sure we leave nothing in the car we don’t want to lose.

There are other solutions of course. I did many years ago cover my car with a reflective cover. It worked okay, but by the time I took it off the car, the sun already heated the car. Besides, someone took the cover.

My wife is always tell me, I think to much. I guess that’s true. I did consider just a couple of 4 x 8 pieces of plywood with aluminum foil. I almost did it a time or two. I also wondered if I might be able to mount the things on the car while driving. I am sure it would drive the cost of AC down, but I’m not sure it would be legal.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a piece of foam that would fit over the car and hang over the windows a little. That would not only protect from the heat but it would also prolong the life of the interior, maybe a little. The foam could be rolled up while not in use and put in the trunk. I kind of like this idea the most, if I could find a piece of foam. It would not help while driving. However, it would not take as long to cool the cabin.

My car, I guess as most cars with AC allow the driver to select to recirculate the interior air or pull in fresh air and cool it. Many overlook it. When the cabin is 120 degrees, it is better to draw 95 degree air in and cool it instead of the hot interior air, while forcing the 120 degree air out.

On the other hand, once the interior of the car has cooled blow the 95 degree outdoor temperature, it is far better to cool the interior air than the the hotter outside temperature.

My car has all kinds of automation, but I must do this manually. Moreover, I must only guess. I have no interior temperature indication, other than guess. With all the push to go green, why is this so. Nonetheless, I do my part. When I get in my car, I select outdoor. After about 5 minutes, I switch to recirculate. My guess, I’m probably off some.

Another more recent Idea I had is to get one of these battery powered leaf blowers. Roughly five minutes before going anywhere, I can roll down the front windows and point the leaf blower in one window and blow 95 degree in one window forcing he 120 degree air out the other window. I haven’t done it yet, but it does seem that it would work.

Then the blower would go in the trunk for just before I start home.

If anyone has any other ideas, I have my ears on. If the engineers don’t want to solve this problem, let’s do it for them. Incidentally, Old Joe is going to make sure we are all going to go to electric cars. Y’ll are going to be facing these problems one of these days.

A Little Outside of My Expertise

Posted in Electric Automobiles by

I might be wrong and I likely am. It just seems to me that the auto engineers have bypassed the opportunity to rid electric cars of one of the weaknesses of cars, the differential. Ever since cars have made their entry on the scene they have had a weakness. Getting power from both power wheels and still allow them to turn at different speeds. It is why it is called a differential.

Many things have been done to resolve this problem with some success. Even so, at best it is at substantial cost and reliability. Positraction helps in situations where one of the power wheels may slip. Some of these possibilities include sand, ice or even loss of contact with the road.

As far as I know, all or most electric cars have one electric motor for each set of drive wheels. The 4 wheel drive cars use two motors, one for each set of wheels. At least this has some advantage. Power is delivered to the front and rear wheels separately which does permit maximum torque for front wheel and rear wheels independently. However, in this situation, there are two differentials, on each on the back and front wheels.

So, when they came up with electric cars, why one motor? Why not one motor for each wheel?

Well, as I said, it’s outside my knowledge. Still, it does make me wonder just how successful a car would be with two motors. I guess, a single motor failure might be a problem, but how often is that going to happen. Moreover, the car could be designed so that if one motor quit, the other one would too.

Then the question comes to mind, is the cost of two motors more than the cost of a differential. Also, the differential does add weight and reliability considerations.

The one thing I certainly have no understanding of, how would the car drive with two motors, with perhaps different torque to the wheels. Perhaps, tests would have to be made on the motors to get two matched motors. That in itself would add costs.

I don’t know. My wife is always telling me I think too much. Maybe I do.

Wrenches, Wrenches and More Wrenches

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There was a time a few decades ago, we used to use the wrenches based on inches. Then, someone came up with the brilliant idea of going to the metric system. It was supposed to make things simpler.

No one told me as much, but I think it was those who make wrenches and sockets. The instant we started the conversion, I needed twice the wrenches and twice the sockets. That had to make someone a dollar or three.

I mean, just because someone up there in that ivory tower decides to go metric, doesn’t mean all previous things built are metric. Besides, there are still some manufacturers using the old hardware.

So I pick up a wrench and try to use it, only to realize it’s too small. I pick up a larger one only to realize it’s too big.

It is then I realize that, though I have countless wrenches, they are all just two sizes…too big and too small.

I take closer look. I must first determine if I am in search of a metric wrench or an English one. I then search my numerous wrenches and realize the one I need is missing.

I am sure every professional mechanic will tell you, the size of their toolbox has about doubled as soon as went into this so-called transition period. However, no one seems to know just how long this transition will take.

I am certain I will not see the end of it. Actually, I am not sure my grandchildren will.

Meanwhile, all those making wrenches, sockets and hardware will continue turning out a profit on all of it. Whenever we go to the hardware store, that area holding the nuts and bolts and such, will remain twice the size into the foreseeable future. Possibly just a little longer.

Meanwhile, has anyone seen my 9 mm wrench?